WhatsApp Now Free ($1 Annual Fee Being Dropped)

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WhatsApp Now Free ($1 Annual Fee Being Dropped)

Go to Deal

bonky on 18/01/2016 - 23:06 engadget.com (2267 clicks)
Last edited 18/01/2016 - 23:21 by 1 other user

Over the next few weeks, the popular chat app will become totally free.

WhatsApp, the $19 billion dollar messaging service is dropping its $1 annual fee. Founder Jan Koum revealed the news on stage at this year's DLD conference, explaining that the buck-a-year charge might not sound like much, but still prevents many people from using the service

Previously WhatsApp was free for the first year, then $0.99/year thereafter: "For all phone types, WhatsApp is free to download and try for the first year. After a year, you have the option of extending your subscription for $0.99 USD per year."

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closed Comments

- - - Bugs on 19/01/2016 - 11:44
      
      -2
      
      @OZBargain Police:
      Champion of freedom? LOL
      Only if said country has oil reserves…
    - hayne on 19/01/2016 - 13:15
      
      +2
      
      @tomkun01: then you haven't really experienced China, clearly. On the surface, certain aspects of day to day life are similar (although you'll immediately notice simple things like not being able to access websites that we take for granted in the West - Youtube, BBC News, Google).
      
      The longer you spend there, the more you realise it's fundamentally different.
    - belongsinforums on 19/01/2016 - 14:56
      
      @hayne: I'd like to know more.care to share some examples?
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 16:29
      
      -1
      
      @Bugs:
      
      That's why I put that in quotes. Learn to read citizen.
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 16:30
      
      @tomkun01:
      
      You can take it many ways. You can take it as yet another "Western propaganda against poor China"… But this is well documented.
      
      It's not the only example. For more, Google China Uncensored.
    - belongsinforums on 19/01/2016 - 16:51
      
      +1
      
      @OZBargain Police: likewise, research wikileaks to see just how our own government is screwing us over. Eg free trade agreement being signed without citizen consultation.
      
      China just does what the other governments have been doing since inception. Facebook is just as invasive as wechat. I don't see the need to target one app because of known spyware, when in reality, all our data is stored in South Australia then shipped off to America for data mining.
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 18:10
      
      @tomkun01:
      
      Mate you sound as if the whole world is the US. It's not, it's a case by case basis.
      
      Point: the US may not be squeaky clean as as they claim. But China? Theyre on a whole new level, and they're working against its people to have control.
      
      You think they're ok, because… Well look at North Korea! See, it's not so bad after all…
      
      But at least there's freedom online in the US.
      
      Why are you defending China?
    - belongsinforums on 19/01/2016 - 18:35
      
      +2
      
      @OZBargain Police: I suppose I detest the English Internet hive-mind that, well, goes something like this "Sure, our government has been proven to work with other governments to mine our private information, but hey, look at China! At least we don't run over our own citizens with tanks!".
      
      A lot has changed since the days of Mao. The world may not be the US, but Australia is.
      
      Also, there's certainly not freedom online in the US. Beside the high profile cases, like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden etc., it is clear that online freedom is a thing of the past.
      
      The US, Australian, and Chinese governments alike will continue to serve themselves first. Perhaps we have no choice other than to trust our politicians, as rebellion is clearly not an option, but I, for one, will remain skeptical of the gov. and mainstream media, and encourage others to do so.
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 21:19
      
      @tomkun01:
      
      Fair enough for you to remain sceptical of the government, especially after the Edward Snowden cases etc., and yes we are all aware of that.
      
      My point though is still the same: we (Australia) have immense more freedom than China; it's incomparable, and is rather insulting to Australians, and even the real Chinese who are affected (not the Chinese immigrants, who seem to be very sensitive about criticism towards China; they're in denial https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyQwHft0jy6fm_1JpW0gZ… https://youtu.be/D3Fgidg-zBI?t=4m39s ).
      
      If you disagree, you can agree that our actions don't directly affect our everyday lives, at least.
      
      We have to be vigilant, yes, and I as OZBargain Police personally commend you… but you can't deny that we are much better off than China. At least our Facebook posts aren't censored, or directly affect our credit ratings
    - belongsinforums on 19/01/2016 - 22:14
      
      @OZBargain Police: I have personally been censored by Facebook, as has another individual I know.But I agree, it's nowhere near as bad and I'm lucky to be born in a relatively lucky nation in a lucky time. Lucky.
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 23:16
      
      @tomkun01:
      
      …yes,lucky. Lucky. I think you're taking this personally for some reason, but yes we are lucky tom, lucky…
    - [Deactivated] on 20/01/2016 - 00:11
      
      +1
      
      The difference is that China is doing it openly, whilst the yanks are doing at the back.
      
      China can make a person vanish magically with little reason and legal challenge, oppose that the yanks would experience more hurdle doing the same thing.
      
      I would rather the yanks spying on me (seriously people, we all know that the www is not "safe") thank the Chinese Communist party.
      
      Sucks that BBM is not as popular nowadays… it takes MI5 to decode the messages over in London.
  - spaij on 19/01/2016 - 07:30
    
    +3
    
    If you're concerned about that, get Telegram
    - belongsinforums on 19/01/2016 - 10:01
      
      +1
      
      Looks promising!
resubaehtgnolhcs on 18/01/2016 - 23:38

Hmmm …just installed it and it told me that in a year's time if I want to continue using the service it will be 99 cents! So I'll wait a few weeks and see if this changes in my settings…
- cycleri3 on 19/01/2016 - 00:13
  
  It has said that for me for 4 years, it always auto renewed for another year without having to pay.
xsacha on 18/01/2016 - 23:46

+1

Has always been free and I've been using it for about 4 years on a few different phones. I think the charge was only ever for iPhone.
McBanny on 18/01/2016 - 23:47

+2

Isn't it free from the start? My family member had been using it for years! Costs nothing
- [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 00:09
  
  +1
  
  No. There was always a US$0.99 annual fee. The lack of enforcement of this annual fee does not imply that Whatsapp was ever free.
  - wasdw246 on 19/01/2016 - 13:10
    
    Well, its more free than WinRAR
  - bozbargain on 19/01/2016 - 15:48
    
    The annual fee was only introduced in 2013 for iOS. Prior to that, it was a one off fee for the initial download (I believe when they first launched Apple didn't have in-app purchases for subscription based pricing). Interesting to see how they've changed their pricing a few times and how they've treated Android and iOS differently.
mmd on 18/01/2016 - 23:49

Thanks OP, bought a few :P

On serious note, does anyone get junk emails from Whatsapp Notifier of an incoming voice mail.
Looks like spyware/hacker since the email address is random name @portalscripts.com
- [Deactivated] on 18/01/2016 - 23:56
  
  +2
  
  It's not only like spam, it is spam.
  
  Just delete them when they reach your inbox.
  - lomie on 19/01/2016 - 00:00
    
    +1
    
    It's not spam. It's a virus. Don't click on the link in the email.
jlogic on 18/01/2016 - 23:51

Always has been free for everyone in my family. I have some real cheapskates in my family who thought 99c was expensive for a messaging app. Yet happy to forget to recharge their phones to keep the credit rolling.
ashar on 18/01/2016 - 23:52

-2

This just sounds like another fake spam mail messages.. I know of about 20 people with the app in different countries and no one has ever had to pay for it!
- bonky on 19/01/2016 - 00:01
  
  you calling engadget a lair ?
hmac on 19/01/2016 - 00:02

+1

shouldn't this be in forums instead of deals? its not really a deal, rather an announcement as Whatsapp was ALWAYS free
- [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 00:08
  
  No. There was always a US$0.99 annual fee. The lack of enforcement of this annual fee does not imply that Whatsapp was ever free.
  - xsacha on 19/01/2016 - 08:17
    
    It wasn't just lack of enforcement. It was a rolling trial that never ended. They knew if they charged they would lose all customers.
Randxyz123 on 19/01/2016 - 00:05

+1

WhatsApp was always free. I've never had to pay anything for it in the 8 years I've used it
- [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 00:08
  
  +1
  
  No. There was always a US$0.99 annual fee. The lack of enforcement of this annual fee does not imply that Whatsapp was ever free.
  - ashar on 19/01/2016 - 00:10
    
    +1
    
    What do you mean 'Lack of enforcement'? Is this optional? How are other paid apps 'enforcing' the payments?
    - eug on 19/01/2016 - 00:15
      
      +1
      
      I know people who have had to pay the fee. I didn't.
      The fee is real, they just kept renewing the free period for some users.
    - [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 00:37
      
      -1
      
      Paid apps can 'enforce' any desired fee by simply disallowing certain functions to be executed until a payment is made. In other words, in-app purchases.
      
      An 'optional payment' would be bordering on making a donation, and although I've never paid the fee myself I know plenty others who have had to pay for Whatsapp - the same folks who look at me astounded when I tell them I've never been required to pay.
  - Randxyz123 on 19/01/2016 - 00:51
    
    +1
    
    If I go into settings -> account -> payment info. It says I have a lifetime subscription
ashar on 19/01/2016 - 00:09

+2

Is there anyone here who has paid this supposed $1 to use Whatsapp?
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 00:16
  
  I haven't, but I have friends who have.
dealman on 19/01/2016 - 00:12

+1

Now if tinder was free that'd be a deal but this…
- bonky on 19/01/2016 - 00:14
  
  tinder?… and you have a logo of a dog ?
  - dealman on 19/01/2016 - 00:15
    
    +1
    
    Hey dogs need mates, atleast I didn't say grinder;-)
    - bonky on 19/01/2016 - 00:15
      
      +6
      
      have a decent name like mine for tinder lol
  - hopper on 19/01/2016 - 09:36
    
    +1
    
    Some women loves pets that lick 😜
WatchNerd on 19/01/2016 - 00:38

I've been using this for free since phones were invented.
- bonky on 19/01/2016 - 00:44
  
  What… even the old Rotary … crank handle ones?
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 00:50
  
  +6
  
  That's a phony claim.
  - bonky on 19/01/2016 - 00:55
    
    +3
    
    well.. that has a certain ring to it!
hasher22 on 19/01/2016 - 00:56

Had whatsapp for about 4 years+ never had to pay….. maybe because I keep changing phones
- D3m3ntia on 19/01/2016 - 08:15
  
  -1
  
  You think apps can't tell that you're the same person? Unless you've changed numbers each year too. Simple truth is that we've all yet to come across someone who's actually been charged for using whatsapp. Facebook will never charge for using Facebook or Facebook messenger, so I guess the sane should apply for their policy on whatsapp.
  - j03 on 19/01/2016 - 10:02
    
    lots of USA phone users were charged after a year of whatsapp use. Including my folks! They were here a couple of years ago on holidays and I had to plonk $ for them to continue using it.
    
    As for I and most of you here in OZ… no payment as of yet. They don't call it is a lucky country for nothing!
Stevetheadventurer on 19/01/2016 - 01:26

-5

i want to make a comment so i can so no to panda
- NeggerOfDeals on 19/01/2016 - 01:42
  
  +2
  
  Easy there, Steve. Don't go adventuring too hard.
darthsparrow on 19/01/2016 - 01:44

+1

It started as a paid app at US$0.99. Occasionally, it goes free on the App Store. Then they introduced $0.99 a year subscription. I paid for it when it was US$0.99 from the App Store, and was given a "lifetime subscription" when they started the annual subscription.
EVA-01 on 19/01/2016 - 01:45

My understanding (and my own experience) is that Whatsapp is tied to your phone number. Say you acquired the app few years ago when it was still a paid app (either by paying for it or from the occasional giveaway https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/45941) you will have a "lifetime subscription" as long as you keep using it with the same number, regardless of changes of handset/OS (iOS to/from Android). If you only started using it after it changed from a paid app to a subscription model (http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/16/whatsapp-free/) you'll (supposedly) be required to pay after the first year, although the "free 1st year" had been extended several times due to backslash IIRC.
Newtz4 on 19/01/2016 - 01:59

-1

Always thought this was free (have used it for years, but recently installed on a new phone), but ive just checked my WhatsApp, and it does say that my subscription ends on Nov 7 2016, who knew!
knock knock on 19/01/2016 - 07:01

+1

whats the catch? does this mean that we become the product for "research" purposes…oooh who am i kidding if it's for free i'll use it.
expertreader on 19/01/2016 - 07:50

+3

This means that we start seeing ads. Mark my words.
- Pulseidon on 19/01/2016 - 10:25
  
  I mean never say never but Facebook Messenger doesn't have ads and Facebook owns WhatsApp - they make money selling metadata.
frostman on 19/01/2016 - 07:58

+2

Wow, they must be making a shit-load of money selling all your phone contacts to agencies, hence the freebie
tatnal on 19/01/2016 - 08:00

Wow, $19b business. Obviously someone is paying for the service.
hawkers8905 on 19/01/2016 - 08:09

+2

Deleted this app due to the amount of spam messages. I don't know how many Nigerian scamming iphones I have won. I've lost count. Fix this and I'll reconsider.

P.S Always has been free. I originally downloaded it before they introduced all this B.S
lplau on 19/01/2016 - 08:21

+1

This has always been free.
It reminds you to pay for subscription but if you ignore it, just before it expires it will automatically gift you another year.

I have a feeling it's a automated feature which they built in lol.
Nost-dc on 19/01/2016 - 08:29

+1

next update will probably have ads, or worse, start sending unsolicited messages to your contacts with ads
Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 19/01/2016 - 08:42

+1

Can confirm as well I've never had to pay for WhatsApp.

…I've never actually downloaded or used the app, but yes, can confirm I've never had to pay.
01011010 on 19/01/2016 - 08:50

i didn't realise you had to pay for this app, i'd never used until needed to last November. funnily enough i looked in the settings on the app and it does say the subscription does expire this November and then there is subscription options!

great deal - thanks for posting.
FatBlanket on 19/01/2016 - 08:53

+1

This is actually a bad thing. Nothing is free.
ronnknee on 19/01/2016 - 08:54

Never had to pay either since the "trial period" kept on renewing itself for some reason. Good to know that it's certainly free now.
Mahalo on 19/01/2016 - 09:01

I've been using the free version since I can remember this app existed. I assume the paid version was the same but some people paid $1 for it?
[Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 09:08

I'm not surprised by this change because lots of Generation Z and 0 are moving towards better apps like Line which have colourful cartoon mascots, and the famous Telegram which is eating most of Whatsapps' customers. Whilst those that require psuedo-privacy are moving towards apps like Wickr.

It has always been free if you have been willing to jump through loopholes. So this could just be a futile effort by Facebook to retain old customers and try to obtain new customers which shied away from the fee (not knowing there was a way around it).
knowskillz on 19/01/2016 - 09:09

I'm just up voting because it's now free'er!
dny on 19/01/2016 - 09:19

Back when the iphone 3g came out I purchased the app for a once off $1 and linked it to my number.
Since then whenever I check my license status it says lifetime subscription and it's never asked me to pay again.
ProjectZero on 19/01/2016 - 09:21

Hmm… I've never had to pay though. I did start using Whatsapp when it first came out so perhaps they deemed it as an early user discount?
- [Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 09:47
  
  +2
  
  I'm pretty sure it just extends your subscription for free if you didn't pay at the end of the 1 year path. If you paid earlier, then you basically paid… lol.
  
  I'm now wondering like above comments; whether this app ever intended to take people's cash at all, or if their revenue generation was from some other unscrupulous means.
  
  There is a possibility like others have commented that it could be some data mining experiment/research. They could use it to serve ads connected to your facebook account based on your message history, i.e. connect phone number on facebook to whatsapp.
  
  Reminds me a bit about those autosurf ponzi programs that require you to do a small amount of work before they multiple your earnings, under the pretense that they were funded by advertising. When in fact it was just a ponzi scheme.
  
  A bit like Whatsapp, it seems like a majority of customers don't pay, and yet everyone thinks because people are supposed to be paying that it doesn't have ads. That means they are getting revenue from somewhere else, or making a loss. If the second is true, Facebook probably won't continue to bleed cash into the future.
Jonc on 19/01/2016 - 09:56

Andorid: WhatsApp has generally always charged $1 per year membership and at times did ask/remind users (but not always) to pay the renewal however if you let it lapse in the past they would automatically renew you for free as I believe they did not want to loose members…

OSX: I believe WhatsApp use to have an upfront cost on OSX in the past however after that initial cost you got a lifetime membership on that phone number… For example if I purchase it on my old OSX system with phone number 123456789 that phone number would then have lifetime membership even if I then switched it over to Android at a later date which I have done with my wife's phone.

So great to see they are removing the yearly charge however I've also been using in for years and never paid because it simply auto-renews for free if you don't pay in time…

Hope that helps clear things up and what others are meaning by it's never been 'enforced'…etc..
[Deactivated] on 19/01/2016 - 10:25

i've had this app installed for years now and have never had to pay for it
lolmao on 19/01/2016 - 10:30

To everyone saying it's always been free:

Old WhatsApp users might not be aware of this, but WhatsApp introduced the subscription fees for its service a few years ago, forcing new users to pay an annual 99 cents (~$1) subscription fee after the first year.
MrLeE on 19/01/2016 - 10:40

+1

Was I the only stupid one to actually pay 2 subscriptions then?
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 11:22
  
  +1
  
  Nope. Thanks for supporting the app developers for us non-paying users, assuming it was pre-FB. :)
  - MrLeE on 19/01/2016 - 15:13
    
    Yeah I don't mind supporting app developers anyways. Since I'm an App Designer.
    
    It wasn't pre-FB.
    
    But it was off Free Google Survey Credits. (hard earned google survey credit!)
    
    So I guess it's win win? (And hopefully i don't lose my 0zbargain status as a bargin hunter as well)
Kamsi on 19/01/2016 - 10:44

Anything is free is ozbargained :)
Utopian on 19/01/2016 - 10:55

+1

Always been free. Shows some crap about $1, but crossed-out… Like they're helping us out.
BadGiraffe on 19/01/2016 - 11:23

Just curious. I use Hangouts more than whatsapp. I find it user friendly, has a client on every single OS, be it desktop or mobile, out there (minus Windows phones), backs up all chats to the cloud, backs up all photos sent, and has good quality calls (desktop or mobile).

I tend to use it on my phone when I'm out, and then use it on my tablet and PC exclusively when I'm at home. I use the voice calls and webcam when I'm gaming as well.

The real draw for me is that I can continue my chats on my desktop or tablet once I'm home, or when my phone runs out of juice.

So why is whatsapp so popular, and why do I have to keep converting people to Hangouts?
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 11:41
  
  +1
  
  It really depends on the people you communicate with. Hangouts would suit some people better, Whatsapp would suit others better. I use both, but prefer Whatsapp as all my friends have it installed.
  
  Hangouts still has the "thumbnail-sized photo" bug too - when I send a photo via mobile, the recipient is only able to see a low-res version of it. The higher-res version appears after a minute or so. I also can't forward photos or blocks of messages to other recipients on Hangouts. Photos can also only be sent one by one unlike Whatsapp where you can select several photos at once.
  
  I think the biggest advantage Whatsapp has is that it's very easy to sign up - all it needs is a phone number. No need for a Google or FB account, so no personal info is required - your phone number is enough. There is also no Hangouts client for Windows Phone too, in case you know anyone with one.
  
  I tend to use it on my phone when I'm out, and then use it on my tablet and PC exclusively when I'm at home.
  
  I use Whatsapp Web on my desktop at work and at home.
  - BadGiraffe on 19/01/2016 - 12:50
    
    +1
    
    Whatsapp web, ey? Okay. I'll have to go check that out. Thanks!
    
    Edit: Also, in Hangouts, you can multi-select photos and send them as well. Not sure when this happened, but I do remember a time when you could only send them one at a time.
- DntRgu on 19/01/2016 - 11:49
  
  +1
  
  Whatsapp is great for sending videos to friends - it compresses them on the fly. Really good.
  
  I've tried most chat prog and video sending is the downfall. Whatsapp trumps most of them.
  Google chat/talk i use primarily for the same reason as you - being able to switch devices easily and continue chat.
  - BadGiraffe on 19/01/2016 - 12:50
    
    Ah! That's what it is! Google better pick up their game then.
    
    Yeah. I've my friends say that too. Alright. Time to jump no the bandwagon!
NBAD25 on 19/01/2016 - 11:39

WhatsApp has saved us all a lot of money, and we couldn't even bother giving them their $1.

Shame on us.
man0k on 19/01/2016 - 12:09

So many free apps these days that do exactly that.
I tested icq the other day and liked the phone call quality.
Also i find facebook messenger works well for phone calls.
Not a fan of Skype or hangouts

But for encryption and my default sms app i been using signal.
shaiguy on 19/01/2016 - 12:22

LINE and WeChat are so much better than Whatsapp - so many more features, settings, etc. I actually prefer LINE but it is more commonly used in Japan and now Thailand. I haven't tried Kakao but heard it's also quite good. Why I like LINE over Whatsapp:
- can have security to open app
- secure chat options (msgs delete after certain time that you set it to when it has been read, e.g. 10s, 1 min, etc.)
- do not need to use phone number (and can login from web)
- the emojis or "stickers" as they are referred to were at first annoying but pretty cool. It sense what you type, e.g. "happy" or "love" and then suggests certain stickers that you can just press. You can get more free "stickers" or buy them. They are pretty annoying.
- certain LINE apps including games etc.
I think Whatsapp is like the Windows 95 of messaging apps.
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 12:54
  
  Funnily enough, I prefer Whatsapp because it's a clean, straightforward "non-bloaty" app which doesn't have all those extra things like stickers, games, etc.
  
  Of course if I was in a country where LINE/WeChat was dominant, I'd use it too. A large userbase trumps all, IMHO.
- nephilim on 19/01/2016 - 14:51
  
  Whatsapp allows you to send mp3s and a bunch of other stuff others dont allow. There is a reason why it dominates Africa, who use to belong to blackberry, whatsapp took all its features.
- MrLeE on 19/01/2016 - 15:16
  
  yeah LINE is a big one in Asia.
  
  I met some Jap girls, and they were crazy about LINE. Installed it once to get their numbers, and never used it again.
  
  Until I met some other girls in the states, and they said, "what is whatsapp??? but we have LINE"
  
  Lazy prevails.
norimono on 19/01/2016 - 14:42

+1

If you consider using Facebook 'free' then yeah, WhatsApp is free too. They should pay you for all the data they are collecting about your behaviour.
error619 on 19/01/2016 - 15:28

I get spammed from WhatsApp,and I have never even Installed it. Cannot get rid of it.
SrMoure on 19/01/2016 - 17:13

Go Telegram !!! (BTW whatsapp has been always free unless you voluntary paid, but now telegram is starting to grow with better security and no mention to any kind of payment)
Iqs on 19/01/2016 - 17:22

I always pay $1 each year. Does this mean I have been ripped off?
grog on 19/01/2016 - 17:56

Tell me this:

Is whatsapp permanently linked to the original phone number?

So if the number changes e.g 6 times a month will the app still work?
- eug on 19/01/2016 - 18:14
  
  Yes, until you uninstall the app and reinstall it. It authenticates your phone number via SMS when you start the app for the first time. You don't even need a SIM in the phone after you've authenticated, it'll work over wifi.
senorclean on 20/01/2016 - 10:18

It is a pain having so many messenger apps.. is there a good reason to bother with WhatsApp over Signal (other than the userbase)?

I find myself using facebook messenger more and more these days :/
- dbun1 on 20/01/2016 - 13:42
  
  The only reason would be if your friend/family base uses the app.
  Just use whichever app most of your contacts use.
  
  Most people I know seem to be using FB Messenger more and more too.
  Between iMessage, Whatsapp and FB Messenger I have everyone covered, so I only have those installed.

This was posted 8 years 10 months 17 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

WhatsApp Now Free ($1 Annual Fee Being Dropped)

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